Health advocates push for stronger state smoking law

HARRISBURG - A new push by health advocates is underway to expand the statewide ban on indoor smoking by eliminating a dozen existing exemptions and allowing local governments more say on the matter.

The focus was put on strengthening Pennsylvania's 2008 Clean Indoor Act with the American Lung Association and other groups calling Tuesday for "No More Exceptions" during a rally at the state Capitol.

Ending exceptions that allow smoking in some workplaces will reduce the health dangers from second-hand smoke, said Deb Brown, regional lung association president.

"Thousands of Pennsylvanians have to work in those dirty, smoky environments," she added.

Rep. Mario Scavello, R-176, Mount Pocono, is preparing legislation to eliminate smoking ban exceptions for casino floors and drinking establishments with less than 20 percent of business in food sales that featured prominently in the 2008 debate over the issue. His legislation would allow local governments to exact smokefree ordinances that are more stringent than the state law.

Specifically, Mr. Scavello's bill would end the exceptions for casino gaming floors, drinking establishments meeting the food sales threshold, private clubs, residential facilities, hotel guest rooms, fundraisers, tobacco promotion events, full-service truck stops and the workplace of tobacco manufacturers and distributors by defining them as public places, according to a legislative memo.

He said the smoking ban helped businesses rather than hurt them as ban opponents predicted.

Mert Gavin, owner of Mert's bar in Scranton, said the regulation would hurt his business because many people come just to smoke a cigarette with their drinks. Mr. Gavin said his business has high ceilings, exhaust fans and ventilation to "suck the air out" to keep secondhand smoke from bothering non-smoking customers.

"If they want to ban smoking in bars, then they should totally ban the sale of cigarettes and cigars," Mr. Gavin said. "But they won't do that because of the tax money they'd lose. Let's not be hypocritical about it. They're trying to ban the use of them but not the sale."

A complete indoor smoking law is needed to fully carry out Pennsylvania's environmental rights constitutional amendment that promises citizens a right to clean air, said Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-12, Willow Grove, sponsor of a similar Senate bill.

"As long as we allow smoking in indoor locations, that right has not been fulfilled," he added.

The lung association supports both bills as a way to have a comprehensive ban that would prohibit smoking in all indoor workplaces.

Staff writer Kyle Wind contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

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